August 16, 2009 Update
Incident: Panther Creek Fire Complex Wildland Fire
Released: 8/16/2009
The North Cascades Fire management staff and crews have been busy this year as twenty-three fires have occurred in the North Cascades National Park Complex since the end of May. Fire size has ranged from a single tree to over 350 acres. Eleven of these fires are out, others continue to smolder on the ground in timber stands. Total acreage for active fires is 646 acres. Current fires are grouped into complexes by geographic location for management purposes. The Panther Complex is a group of 5 fires near the Panther Creek Drainage/Ruby Mt. Fires range in size from 0.1 to 353 acres. The Crapper Complex, near Newhalem Creek, has 4 fires between 0.1 and 2 acres. The Moon Complex in the Stephen Mather Wilderness has 3 fires, two are 0.5 acres and the third is 66 acres. Depending on the location of a fire, it may be suppressed due to its proximity to structures, infrastructure or other resources, or it may be allowed to burn for resource benefit.
Park fire management staff and crews work long hours to monitor fires and implement strategies to meet the objectives set for each fire. The number one objective for fire managers is firefighter and public safety, to date there have been no injuries on these fires.
Current Situation: Yesterday, reports of smoke from fires in the Crapper and Panther Complexes were made by aerial monitors. Active fire with sporadic flame lengths up to 2 feet was reported by the park's fire effects crew on the Brush Creek Fire in the Moon Complex. The fire is slowly backing down the hill, burning the duff down to mineral soil. It is currently about 700 feet above the trail. Actions for today include: extraction of the fire effects crew on the Moon Complex, and if requested, helicopter bucket water drops on the Cascade Fire in the Panther Complex and on fires in the Crapper Complex. Aerial and ground monitoring of fires will be made to assess fire activity. The four rappellers at the Agnes Fire are returning to their home unit in the Wenatchee National Forest after completing suppression activities, the Agnes Fire is now out.
Conditions and Fuels: Fires are burning in fire adapted ecosystems. Fires are in alpine and subalpine mixed conifer forests that are located in steep, inaccessible terrain. Firefighters are not on the ground at fires with terrain difficulties for safety reasons. If requested, aircraft are used to support suppression tactics in these as well as other areas.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Skies will be mostly sunny today with high temperatures between 79 and 85 degrees, humidity will drop to around 40%. Fire behavior and smoke intensity may increase as a result of this hotter, drier weather.
Resources Assigned to the Fire: Personnel: Park staff supported by single resources
Aircraft: 2 helicopters, one Type 3 (light) and one Type 2 (medium)
TRAIL CLOSURES: The Panther Creek Trail is closed from the trailhead on Highway 20 to Fourth of July Pass until further notice.
HIGHWAY 20: Highway 20 is open. Park visitor facilities have not been affected.
